| Summary |
The advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 created a unique opportunity for new
laws and policies to be passed. Today, a decade later, South African reproductive health policies
and the laws that underwrite them are among the most progressive and comprehensive in the
world in terms of the recognition that they give to human rights, including sexual and reproductive
rights. |
| More Details |
This paper documents the changes in health policy and services that have occurred,
focusing particularly on key areas of sexual and reproductive health: contraception, maternal
health, termination of pregnancy, cervical and breast cancer, gender-based and sexual violence, HIV/
AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and infertility. Despite important advances, significant
changes in womens reproductive health status are difficult to discern, given the relatively short
period of time and the multitude of complex factors that influence health, especially inequalities in
socio-economic and gender status. Gaps remain in the implementation of reproductive health
policies and in service delivery that need to be addressed in order for meaningful improvements
in womens reproductive health status to be achieved. Civil society has played a major role in
securing these legislative and policy changes, and health activist groups continue to pressure the
government to introduce further changes in policy and service delivery, especially in the area
of HIV/AIDS. |
| Publication Webpage |
http://www.rhmjournal.org.uk |
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| Keywords |
This Item is associated with the Following
Keywords: Reproductive Health, Maternal, Child and Women's Health, health policy. |
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